Cleaning glove

ABSTRACT

An example cleaning glove includes a glove having a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from the palm portion. Each of the palm portion and the finger portion has a front surface and a back surface. An abrasive layer is secured to the front surface of the palm portion, and the front surface and the back surface of the finger portion. The example cleaning glove may be used to clean many surfaces (e.g., dishes, countertops, etc.) and in many cleaning environments (e.g., public areas, restrooms, hospitals, etc.).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a cleaning glove. More particularly, this invention relates to a glove having an area incorporating an abrasive layer or surface.

Gloves are commonly worn when cleaning. Gloves protect a user's hands from exposure to harmful cleaning agents, damaging environments, or both. Some gloves protect the user's hands from water, such as gloves worn when washing dishes. If unprotected, prolonged exposure to water, other liquids, or chemicals may damage the user's hands. Additionally, the gloves protect the user's hands from injuries caused by broken dishes, other sharp edges, or other abrasive cleaning surfaces.

In some cases, wearing gloves may introduce challenges to cleaning. Grasping various items, such as soap or an abrasive sponge, may prove difficult when wearing gloves in a wet environment. That is, the water repelling glove surface protecting the user's hands from water damage also may cause slipping when trying to grasp an item. This challenge is especially relevant to the user wearing gloves while washing dishes. Slipping when washing dishes may result in broken dishes, which have sharp edges capable of injuring the user.

Another challenge of cleaning while wearing gloves is effectively cleaning in confined areas. More specifically, it is difficult to scrub or scour confined areas with a sponge, brush, or other cleaning device. Also, wearing gloves effectively increases the user's overall hand size and can prevent accessing some areas, such as the interior surfaces of a drinking glass.

Grasping a cleaning pad, (e.g., scouring pad, sponge, scrubbing pad) also complicates cleaning these areas. When grasping a cleaning pad, a clenched hand may be too large or awkward to extend within an article to be cleaned. Even if extendable within the article, the user may be unable to effectively maneuver their hand within the article to adequately scrub or scour. In some cases, the only way to access the entire interior of the article is to release the cleaning pad. This is not an effective or efficient way to clean as it eliminates the benefits of the cleaning pad. The user may utilize another type of cleaning tool, such as a long handled brush, but this approach adds time, and an additional tool, to the cleaning process. Further, the cleaning brush may not provide the detailed cleaning capable with a cleaning pad.

What is needed is a cleaning device that facilitates cleaning confined areas and combines a cleaning pad with a protective glove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example cleaning glove includes a glove having a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from the palm portion. Each of the palm portion and the finger portion has a front surface and a back surface. An abrasive layer is secured to the front surface of the palm portion, and the front surface and the back surface of the finger portion. The example cleaning glove may be used to clean many surfaces (e.g., dishes, countertops, etc.) and in many cleaning environments (e.g., public areas, restrooms, hospitals, etc.).

In another example, a cleaning glove includes a glove having a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from the palm portion. Each of the palm portion and the finger portion has a front surface and a back surface. The abrasive material is melt bonded to the palm portion and the finger portion.

Further examples of the cleaning glove are waterproof and include antimicrobial or antifungal properties. The example glove may include gripping features, which aid in handling items and facilitate movement of the hand within the glove.

Various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a back view of an example cleaning glove.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user's hand.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the example cleaning glove.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an abrasive layer melt bonded to the example cleaning glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An example cleaning glove 10 of FIG. 1 includes a wrist portion 14, a palm portion 18, and at least one finger portion 22. The palm portion 18 connects the wrist portion 14 and the finger portions 22. The example glove 10 may be a waterproof glove such as a latex (synthetic or natural) rubber glove. The wrist portion 14 includes an opening 26 providing access to the interior of the glove 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2 with continuing reference to FIG. 1, a user's hand 40 enters through the opening 26 to put on the glove 10. The interior surface of the glove 10 may include a liner 30 having a smooth or flocked surface, which aids in sliding the glove 10 over the hand 40. The liner 30 lessens contact between the hand 40 and the latex portions of the glove 10. The example liner 30 may include pores, a hydrophilic material, or both, that absorb moisture, such as perspiration from the hand or wick moisture away from the user's hand 40. Fingers 44 and a thumb 46 on the user's hand 40 are received into the respective finger portions 22 of the glove 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the glove 10 includes an abrasive layer 54 located on the palm portion 18 and the finger portions 22. The abrasive layer 54 enhances the abrasive properties of the cleaning glove 10. In this example, the abrasive layer 54 primarily covers the front of the glove 10. More specifically, the abrasive layer 54 extends across the front of the palm portion 18 to a tip portion 58 of the finger portions 22. Near the tip 58, the abrasive layer 54 wraps around the finger portions 22 (FIG. 1), i.e., the abrasive layer 54 covers the front and back of the finger portions 22 near the tip 58.

This manner of covering the front and back of the finger portions 22 with the abrasive layer 54 facilitates accessing and cleaning confined areas. For example, a user can scrub the interior surfaces of a narrow glass by extending a gloved index finger into the glass and using the entire circumference of the tips 58 to scrub the surfaces.

The example abrasive layer 54 also covers other areas of the glove 10. For example, the abrasive layer 54 may extend along side portions 64 of the finger portions 22 of the glove 10. Of course, the exact location of the abrasive layer 54 on the palm portion 18 and the finger portions 22 may reflect the particular cleaning needs. For example, a user may desire that the abrasive layer 54 does not extend to the finger portions 22 corresponding to the user's thumb, but does extend to the finger portions 22 corresponding to the user's fingers. Further, the abrasive layer 54 may vary in thickness. As an example, the abrasive layer 54 on the finger portions 22 may be thinner than the abrasive layer 54 on the palm portion 18 of the glove 10.

In one example, the abrasive layer 54 includes a plurality of non-woven fibers having a random orientation, which are melt bonded to the cleaning glove 10. The example fibers are polymer, metal, or both. Melt bonding techniques are known. Alternatively various adhesion techniques may secure the abrasive layer 54 to the palm portion 18 and the finger portions 22 of the cleaning glove 10, such as an adhesive layer 52, spray bonding, heat staking, etc. Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art may be able to develop additional suitable techniques for securing the abrasive layer 54.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view through a portion of the glove 10 including the abrasive layer 54. In this example, the abrasive layer 54 includes a plurality of loosely assembled fibers 56 melt bonded to the glove 10. The fibers 56 do not contact the user's hand 40 when the user wears the glove 10. Melt bonding the abrasive layer 54 to the glove 10 embeds portions of the fibers 56 within the glove 10. Thus the fibers 56 are mechanically interlocked with the glove 10.

In this example, the fibers 56 of the abrasive layer 54 are loosely assembled. Thus when gripping a dish or similar object, the abrasive layer 54 compresses, which may cause the dish to slip from the user's grasp, as the user is unable to judge the actual position of the dish due to the compressing abrasive layer. That is, the user's perceived position of the dish within their grasp may not be the actual position of the dish.

In addition to cleaning dishes, the glove 10 can be used to clean in various other environments. Janitors may use the glove 10 to clean bathroom fixtures (e.g., tubs and sinks). A user could additionally clean countertops or sanitize various areas, such as frequently cleaned areas within a hospital.

Optionally, the glove 10 includes antimicrobial properties, such as incorporating an antimicrobial agent into the abrasive layer 54, the material of the glove 10, or both. Antifungal properties may be similarly incorporated. Techniques of incorporating antibacterial properties and antifungal properties in a glove are known. As the example glove 10 is typically worn in environments that are conducive to fungal growth, such as moist environments, incorporating antifungal properties into the glove 10 discourages fungal formation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,782 to Hourihan discloses an example technique for incorporating antimicrobial properties in latex based gloves. The technique of Hourihan incorporates an antimicrobial agent, such as diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone, into layers of material forming the glove.

Optionally, the glove 10 includes gripping features 50 to aid the user in judging the position of the dish (FIG. 3). The example gripping features 50 are raised ridges of the finger portions 22 or palm portion 18. The gripping features 50 are thicker than other areas of the glove 10. In another example, the gripping feature 50 is an area of the cleaning glove 10 void of abrasive layer 54. The gripping features 50 provide a substantially direct path from the user's hand 40 through the glove 10 to the dish, which enhances the tactile properties of the glove. In so doing, the gripping features 50 help to match the user's perceived position of the dish with the actual position. The gripping features 50 may further include a textured pattern on the surface.

The fingers 44 and thumb 46 of the user's hand 40 include several joints having hinge points 48 such as knuckles. In one example, the gripping features 50 generally align with the hinge points 48 of the user's hand 40. Eliminating the abrasive layer 54 from areas of the cleaning glove 10 adjacent to the hinge point 48 facilitate movement of the user's hand 40 and, more specifically, the user's fingers 44 and thumb 46.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Various modifications to the disclosed examples can be apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims. 

1. A cleaning glove, comprising: a glove including a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from said palm portion, each of said palm portion and said at least one finger portion having a front surface and a back surface; an abrasive layer secured to said front surface of said palm portion, and said front surface and said back surface of said at least one finger portion, said abrasive layer having an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, or both; and at least one gripping feature located on said palm portion, said at least one finger portion, or both.
 2. The cleaning glove of claim 1, wherein said glove is waterproof.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The cleaning glove of claim 1, wherein said abrasive layer is further secured to a side, a tip, or both, of said at least one finger portion.
 5. The cleaning glove of claim 4, wherein said abrasive layer extends on the back surface from said tip to an area of said at least one finger portion corresponding in location to a knuckle of a user's hand.
 6. The cleaning glove of claim 1, wherein said abrasive layer is further secured to a side of said palm portion.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The cleaning glove of claim 7, wherein said gripping feature is a ridge of said glove portion, an area of said glove without said abrasive layer, or both.
 9. The cleaning glove of claim 7, including a texture pattern on a surface of said at least one gripping feature.
 10. The cleaning glove of claim 7, wherein said gripping feature generally corresponds in location on said at least one finger portion to a knuckle of a user's hand.
 11. The cleaning glove of claim 1, wherein said glove comprises a moisture absorbent liner.
 12. The cleaning glove of claim 1, wherein a surface portion of said glove is mechanically interlocked with fibers of said abrasive layer such that said surface portion at least partially surrounds said fibers to secure said abrasive layer and said glove together.
 13. The cleaning glove of claim 1, including an adhesive layer between said abrasive layer and said glove, said adhesive layer securing said abrasive layer to said glove. 14-20. (canceled)
 21. A cleaning glove, comprising: a glove including a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from said palm portion, each of said palm portion and said at least one finger portion having a front surface and a back surface; an abrasive layer secured to said front surface of said palm portion, and said front surface and said back surface of said at least one finger portion, said abrasive layer having an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, or both; and at least one gripping feature located on said at least one finger portion, said at least one gripping feature located to generally correspond with the position of a knuckle of a user's hand.
 22. The cleaning glove of claim 21, wherein said gripping feature includes a ridge.
 23. The cleaning glove of claim 21, wherein said gripping feature is an area without said abrasive layer.
 24. The cleaning glove of claim 21, including a textured pattern on a surface of said at least one gripping feature.
 25. The cleaning glove of claim 21, wherein said at least one gripping feature is thicker than an adjacent area of said glove.
 26. The cleaning glove of claim 21, wherein said at least one gripping feature includes a multiple of gripping features.
 27. The cleaning glove of claim 26, wherein each of said multiple of gripping features define a ridge which generally correspond to the position of a knuckle of a user's hand. 